Stoker



March 27, 1934. w. E. LOWER STOKER Filed April ll. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l u u f:

March 27, 1934. w. E. LOWER STOKER Filed Aprll 1l, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 27, 1934. lw E LOWER STOKER Filed April ll. 1929 3. Sheets-Sheet 5 UNITED STATES PATENT orllcr.`

.STOKER `William E. Lower, Bellevue, Pa., assignor to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application April 11, 1929, Serial No. 354,417

1 Claim.

This invention relates to mechanical stokers for locomotives of the type that transfers the fuel from the tender to the rebox thro-ugh the lower portion of the redoor opening by a screw conveyor.

An object of the invention is to provide a Stoker that is inexpensive to manufacture and install.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a Stoker in a locomotive that can be installed in one complete unit.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and appended claim taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 iS a vertical sectional view taken on the center-line of the locomotive and tender, with the invention in part section, showing the invention as applied thereon.

Fig. 2 iS a part Sectional plan view of the locomotive and the invention.

Fig. 3 is a view of the forward end of the Stoker taken from the inside of the firebox and illustrates the fuel distributing apparatus in the firing opening.

Fig. 4 is a Sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Fig. 5 is a Sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Figure 2 and illustrates the Stoker engine secured to the Stoker. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the redoor frame and delivery mouth of the Stoker, to which the unitary Stoker conduit it attached.

In Figure 1 the numeral 1 designates the locomotive; 2, the locomotive tender, and 3, the Stoker. The Stoker conduit is formed of one main section extending horizontally beneath the fuel bunker 4 in the tender and inclined forwardly and upwardly at its forward end for delivering fuel to the firing opening 5 in the backhead 6 of the locomotive. The Stoker conduit is flexibly attached to the backhead 6 by the ball joint '7. The vertical pivot 8 on the horizontal tender portion 9 of the Stoker conduit turns in the truck 17 and 18 Serve as guides forv the rollers 11 and 12 to keep the Stoker central in the tender.

On Sharp curves, cross-overs and turn-tables there is considerable swing and drop between the locomotive 4and tender causing the inclined con- G0, duit portion 21 to move laterally and vertically in the locomotive cab deck 22. On account of this movement clearance 23 is provided in the locomotive cab deck 22. A loosely mounted Sealing member 24 Surrounds the inclined conduit por- 55' tion 21 and closes the clearance opening 23.V The Sealing member 24 slides on. the top of the locomotive cab deckv22 durng movement of the inclined conduit portion 21. A door 25 is hinged to the locomotive cab deck 22 at the rear of the 70 inclined conduit portion 21 for permitting the unitary Stoker conduit to be withdrawn from the locomotive when the tender and locomotive are uncoupled.

The run-of-mine coal falls by gravity from the fuelbunker 4, through the opening 26 in the floor 27 of the fuel bunker, into the horizontal tender portion 9 of the Stoker conduit, where the conveying Screw 28 moves it forward. The large lumps are reduced to a size Suitable for proper firing by the conveying screw 28 forcing them against the crusher 29. The crusher 29 is positioned above the conveying Screw 28 and is rigidly Secured to the inside of the horizontal tender portion 9 of the Stoker conduit. The coal g5 is conveyed from the crusher 29 by the conveying Screw 28 to the inclined conduit portion 21, where the elevating Screw 30 in the inclined conduit portion 21 carries the coal to lthe firing opening 5 beneath the redoor 31. The elevating Screw 30 90 is driven from the conveying Screw 28 by means of the double universal joint 32. A door 33 is provided in the Stoker conduit for enabling the elevating Screw 30 and the conveying screw 28 to be connected by the double universal joint 32.

The conveying Screw 28 is driven from the rear, through a set of gears inclosed in the gear case 34 and the drive shaft 35, by the Stoker engine 36. The drive Shaft 35 iS connected to the engine Shaft 37 by the coupling 38. A suitable bracket 100 39 is provided at the forward end of the horizontal tender portion 9 of the Stoker conduit to which the Stoker engine 36 is secured. The preferred location of the Stoker engine 36 iS between the locomotive and tender where there is ample space, which Space is provided to permit articulation between the locomotive and its tender and to receive the usual buffer and draw bar coupling connection, not shown. Flexible inlet and exhaust piping 40 and 41, respectively, is necessary 110 since the stoker engine 36 moves with the unitary stoker conduit on curves, cross-overs, and turn-tables. The exhaust steam from the engine 36 can be returned to the water compartment in the tender as shown in Figure 1. The inlet piping 40 leads to a source of steam pressure.

Directly forward of the top end of the elevating screw 3G is the rotatable member 42 for discharging fuel into the rebox. The rotatable member 42 is substantially parallel to the backhead 6 and comprises the hub 43 and the blades 44. The blades 44 extend lengthwise of the hub 43. The hub 43 turns in the bearings 45 and 46 in the frame 47. Turbine blades 48 are provided at each end of the rotatable member 42, and fluid blasts issuing from jets 49 impinge on the turbine blades 48 for turning the rotatable member 42. The jets 49 are located on each side of the frame 47 and have suitable pipe and valve connections leading to a source of pressure. A manually adjustable deiiector 50 is positioned forward of the rotatablemember42 for a directing a portion of the coal discharged by the rotatable member 42 to the sides and rear of the rebox. The deflector 50 is pivoted at 51 and moved by the handle 52.

The frame 47 Surrounds the iiring opening 5 and is provided with a spherical concave fragmental conduit portion or delivery mouth 53 at its lower portion to receive the ball 5.4 on the unitary stoker conduit. The unitary stoker conduit is secured to the frame 47 by the clamp 55. In the upper portion of the frame 47 is a second opening 56, which is used for hand firing.

The unitary stoker conduit is preferably made of a straight piece of pipe Vvwhich is cut to the correct length and bent at the desired angle. An' opening is made in the horizontal tender portion of the pipe to receive the coal from the fuel bunker 4 and sides 57 and 58 are welded to the pipe. The gear case 34, the vertical pivot 8, the engine bracket 39, and the ball 45 are secured to the pipe.

From the foregoing description it will readily be seen, by those skilled in the art, that I have invented a stoker that is simple and compact in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and apply, and a stoker that will be efcient in operation. What is claimed isz- In combination, a locomotive provided with fire-box having a backwall with a ring opening therein, a tender, a fuel conveying system comprising a tubular conduit fixed rigidly to said backwall and communicating with said firing opening, a unitary transfer conduit composed of a rearward Substantially horizontally disposed portion movably mounted on the tender and an upwardly inclined forward portion at its forward end iiexibly attached t0 and in end to end relation with the rearward end of said tubular conduit, and :a sectional screw in said transfer conduit, comprising the sole fuel advancing means in said fuel conveying .system comprising a screw section in said rearward portion and a screw section in said forward portion, the latter section terminating adjacent the lrearward end of said tubular .conduit `and the two screw sections being universally connected vat the juncture of the rearward and forward portions of the transfer conduit.

W. E. LOWER. 

